Native Name | Thangka |
Object Number | 51-41-11 |
Current Location | Collections Storage |
Culture | Tibetan | Buddhist |
Provenience | Tibet |
Period | 18th Century |
Date Made | 17th Century - 18th Century |
Section | Asian |
Materials | Silk | Paint |
Technique | Painted |
Iconography | Amitayus Buddha | Tara | Ushnishavijaya | Mahakala | Naropa | Sita Samvara | High Lama | Buddhist Symbols |
Inscription Language | Tibetan Language |
Description | Painting. The seated central figure is probably Amitayus, the name given to Amitabha (Buddha of Infinite Light) in his role of Bestower of Longevity. To the lower left is the goddess Ushnishavijaya, the goddess of the ushnisha (the protuberance on the skull of the Buddha which symbolizes intelligence). To the lower right is one of the Taras, a popular goddess in the Lama pantheon. In the bottom center is Mahakala, god of wealth and special protector of the Mongolian Buddhists, embracing his sakti consort. Toward the top Naropa, Sita Samvara, and a high lama incarnation are depicted. There is an inscription in Tibetan below. The thangka is mounted in Ming Dynasty cloud-woven silk and 17th century early Qing Dynasty tribute silks (red and gold). The Thangka is dedicated to the longevity of Blo bzang 'jam dbyangs rgya mtsho in the Fire-dragon year either 1785 (Chinese) or 1797 (Tibetan). The back is sheer golden silk with Buddhist symbols in tie dye. |
Height | 191.13 cm |
Width | 109.54 cm |
Credit Line | Gift of Schuyler V. R. Cammann, 1951 |
Other Number | 6-1959-3 - Philadelphia Museum of Art Number |
Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.